Nonbacklash device for fishing reels



Sept. 11, 1945. R. B. MUFFETT 2,384,561

NON-BACKLASH DEVICE FOR FISHING HEELS Filed April 14, 1944 ATTDR NEYS Patented Sept. 11, 1945 OFFICE NONBACKLASH DEVICE FOR FISHING REELS Robert B. Muffett, Merchantville, N. J.

Application April 14, 1944, Serial No. 531,041

2 Claims.

The invention relates to fishing reels, and more especially to anti-backlash means for fishing reels.

An object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein the frame of the fishing reel is provided with a tubular housing having a, braking element for contact with the fiange of the spool and means for placing the braking element under compression positioned therein.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which shows the preferred form of the invention, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fishing reel, partly broken away at determined areas, showing the device constructed in accordance with the invention applied.

Figure 2 is an end view of the reel spool with the device a part thereof.

Similar reference characters indicate corre-' sponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates generally a fishing reel having a frame I0, provided with side plates H connected together by spacing rods I2. A spool I 3 is rotatably mounted in the frame I and is rotated manually through means comprising gears, not shown, and a handle I3 As this means may be of any well known construction a further description is believed to be unnecessary. The side plate I I remote from the handle I3 is provided with an opening for receiving the housing I4.

The head I5 of the spool I3 is formed with a peripheral annular rim I6 which at its outer surface forms a thumb or finger contact for the user of the fishing reel to enable braking action upon the spool I3 when casting so as to prevent overcasting of the line.

The end heads I5 and I5 are of substantially cup-shape formation, and within the hollow of the head I5", at diametrically opposite points of the inner periphery of the rim I6, are fan blades I I, which are integral with the said rim and confronting portion of the head I5, the blades being radially disposed to the axis of the spool I3 and clear the gears which form a part of the manual means for turning the reel and which partly extend intothe head I5 The housing I4 is of tubular formation and is externally screw threaded for engagement with the plate I I and for the reception of a cap I8. A friction element I 9 slidable within the housing I I, contacts with the outer face of the spool head I5, and is constantly urged in the direction of the head by a coil spring 20. The spring 20 bears at one end against the friction element I9 and at the other end against a nut 2I on a bolt 22 extending through and screw-threadedly engaged with the cap I8. The bolt 22 extends into the spring 20, and the nut 2| is secured in its adjusted position on the bolt by a lock nut 22 The cap I8 is secured in its adjusted position on the housing 54 by a, lock nut 23. The compression of the spring 20 is regulated through the adjustment of the cap I8 and nut 2I. The spring 20 may be easily and quickly released from compression by turning the bolt 22 back, when it is desired to free the spool I3 for control manually and by the blades I1. When it is desired to place the spool I3 under control of the friction element, the bolt 22 is turned up. The bolt 22 may be conveniently operated through the medium of its head 24. When the spring 20 is under compression the head 24 of the bolt 22 contacts with a boss 25 on the cap I8, the head being larger diametrically than the boss to permit it to be easily grasped.

The fan blades II function to avoid the overrunning of the line in casting and thus effect an anti-backlash device for the spool l3, as a slight tension is always on the backlash and the blades assist in the first part of the cast as the spool I3 must be turning at high speed for the blades to be of value and at the end of the cast as the spool slows down the friction on the backlash stops the spool and prevents an overrun.

The thumb or finger contact and the fan blades assure perfect control of the spool I 3 to eliminate overcasting and backlash thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. An anti-backlash device for a fishing reel having a frame and a fianged spool rotatable in the frame, comprising a tubular housing carried by the frame, a friction element slidable in the housing and contacting with one flange of the spool, a coil spring within the housing bearing against the friction element, a cap adjustably mounted on the housing, a, bolt adjustably carried by the cap and extending into the housing, a nut adjustable on the bolt and contacting with the spring, and means for locking the cap and nut in adjusted position.

2. A device of the character set forth in claim 1, wherein the bolt is provided with a head by means of which it may be turned back to free the spring of compression, and wherein the cap is provided with a boss with which the head and the bolt contact when the spring is under compression.

ROBERT B. MUFFETT. 

